11.12.24 With the large Terracycle box for pens and writing instruments, we've filled yet another box of plastic that will not find its way into our landfill. This time, 48 pounds. Thanks to local residents for placing these items and more in the bins up at La Tienda. Thanks to support from Jacobs (Jacobs, Inc. runs the operation at the EAWSD) who pay for the large Terracycle box for pens and writing instruments. The last shipment was 3.21.24! Today we also sent 9lbs of razor blades to Terracycle for recycling.
10.10.24
Polystyrene (Styrofoam®) Collection Day A Success
On Saturday, September 28, Eldorado/285 Recycles (E/285R) and the Foam Recycler of Albuquerque hosted a Polystyrene (commonly known as Styrofoam®) Collection Day with an incredible community response. Eighty-one residents dropped off their foam, preventing 175 pounds or 706 cubic feet of material from going to the landfill. The event offered a responsible outlet for disposing of Styrofoam®, supporting E/285R’s mission of reducing waste and promoting zero-waste principles.
While participants would prefer a world without Styrofoam®, they appreciated having an eco-friendly disposal option. Styrofoam® is a material that can persist in landfills for centuries. Though black foam and polyethylene items couldn’t be accepted, many attendees expressed enthusiasm for future collections, eager to continue reducing their waste footprint.
A frequently asked question was, “What happens to the foam?” The Foam Recycler densifies it into large blocks, which are sold to manufacturers for repurposing into products like picture frames, crown molding, insulation, shoes, and medical case covers. This process turns waste into a valuable resource.
And what about packing peanuts? Packing peanuts come in different materials, including some that are biodegradable. Polystyrene peanuts can be recycled if they’re bagged, but because they look so similar to other types, careful sorting is essential to avoid contamination and ensure proper recycling.
Although we weren’t sure we’d fill the truck, 70%, the 15-foot truck was packed with foam — a clear sign of the community’s commitment to sustainability.
E/285 Recycles: Leading the Charge Toward Zero Waste
E/285R is a volunteer organization dedicated to fostering a zero-waste future. We educate and inspire the Eldorado and Highway 285 corridor communities to adopt sustainable practices by following the "5R’s":
1. Refuse to buy unwanted items.
2. Reduce excess packaging and single-use products.
3. Repair items to extend their life instead of discarding them
4. Reuse unwanted items instead of buying new ones.
5. Recycle or compost materials that can’t be reused, turning waste into a resource.
Looking to the Future
Due to strong interest, we’re already planning our next collection event in January 2025. Until then, please continue practicing zero waste by saving your foam for the event.
For those needing interim disposal, the Foam Recycler of Albuquerque offers 24/7 drop-off bins at their location (6204 2nd St. NW, Suite D) for a small fee. You can call them at (505) 322-9965 or visit their website at thefoamrecycler.com.
Our sincere thanks to the E/285R volunteers, the Foam Recycler of Albuquerque, and the local businesses and organizations that helped make this event a success. Events like these are key to reducing environmental impact. Every small action—whether it’s avoiding Styrofoam®, recycling responsibly, or raising awareness—moves us toward a more sustainable future.
Polystyrene (Styrofoam®) Collection Day A Success
On Saturday, September 28, Eldorado/285 Recycles (E/285R) and the Foam Recycler of Albuquerque hosted a Polystyrene (commonly known as Styrofoam®) Collection Day with an incredible community response. Eighty-one residents dropped off their foam, preventing 175 pounds or 706 cubic feet of material from going to the landfill. The event offered a responsible outlet for disposing of Styrofoam®, supporting E/285R’s mission of reducing waste and promoting zero-waste principles.
While participants would prefer a world without Styrofoam®, they appreciated having an eco-friendly disposal option. Styrofoam® is a material that can persist in landfills for centuries. Though black foam and polyethylene items couldn’t be accepted, many attendees expressed enthusiasm for future collections, eager to continue reducing their waste footprint.
A frequently asked question was, “What happens to the foam?” The Foam Recycler densifies it into large blocks, which are sold to manufacturers for repurposing into products like picture frames, crown molding, insulation, shoes, and medical case covers. This process turns waste into a valuable resource.
And what about packing peanuts? Packing peanuts come in different materials, including some that are biodegradable. Polystyrene peanuts can be recycled if they’re bagged, but because they look so similar to other types, careful sorting is essential to avoid contamination and ensure proper recycling.
Although we weren’t sure we’d fill the truck, 70%, the 15-foot truck was packed with foam — a clear sign of the community’s commitment to sustainability.
E/285 Recycles: Leading the Charge Toward Zero Waste
E/285R is a volunteer organization dedicated to fostering a zero-waste future. We educate and inspire the Eldorado and Highway 285 corridor communities to adopt sustainable practices by following the "5R’s":
1. Refuse to buy unwanted items.
2. Reduce excess packaging and single-use products.
3. Repair items to extend their life instead of discarding them
4. Reuse unwanted items instead of buying new ones.
5. Recycle or compost materials that can’t be reused, turning waste into a resource.
Looking to the Future
Due to strong interest, we’re already planning our next collection event in January 2025. Until then, please continue practicing zero waste by saving your foam for the event.
For those needing interim disposal, the Foam Recycler of Albuquerque offers 24/7 drop-off bins at their location (6204 2nd St. NW, Suite D) for a small fee. You can call them at (505) 322-9965 or visit their website at thefoamrecycler.com.
Our sincere thanks to the E/285R volunteers, the Foam Recycler of Albuquerque, and the local businesses and organizations that helped make this event a success. Events like these are key to reducing environmental impact. Every small action—whether it’s avoiding Styrofoam®, recycling responsibly, or raising awareness—moves us toward a more sustainable future.
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06.04.24
Meet Shelby Kaye, co-founder of Broken Arrow Glass Recycling
The company, founded in 2020, began out of creativity as the couple began upcycling their own waste when the city closed glass-recycling locations during the pandemic.
https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/business/meet-shelby-kaye-co-founder-of-broken-arrow-glass-recycling/article_908ca1e8-1e99-11ef-b323-3b521f0ff422.html
Meet Shelby Kaye, co-founder of Broken Arrow Glass Recycling
The company, founded in 2020, began out of creativity as the couple began upcycling their own waste when the city closed glass-recycling locations during the pandemic.
https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/business/meet-shelby-kaye-co-founder-of-broken-arrow-glass-recycling/article_908ca1e8-1e99-11ef-b323-3b521f0ff422.html
04.23.24
See where the glass you recycle at the ECC goes:
Glass can be recycled infinitely. Here’s how it works in Colorado’s “closed loop.”
One glass bottle can become another in as little as 30 days, thanks to a lot of science and machines.
https://coloradosun.com/2021/04/22/glass-recycling-infinite-colorado-closed-loop/
See where the glass you recycle at the ECC goes:
Glass can be recycled infinitely. Here’s how it works in Colorado’s “closed loop.”
One glass bottle can become another in as little as 30 days, thanks to a lot of science and machines.
https://coloradosun.com/2021/04/22/glass-recycling-infinite-colorado-closed-loop/
04.13.24
Another Eldorado 285 Recycle volunteers road cleanup. The group cleans up Avenida Vista Grande from the 2nd entrance to the school twice a year. Here is the group that showed up, and the garbage haul from today. Again like last spring and even despite the awful winds, the good news is we got far less trash than previous years. The bad news AGAIN is, the area was filled with lots and lots of cigarette butts which are both a huge fire hazard and unsightly, nasty trash. Yes, we found an old bottle of unopened beer and will recycle the glass!
Another Eldorado 285 Recycle volunteers road cleanup. The group cleans up Avenida Vista Grande from the 2nd entrance to the school twice a year. Here is the group that showed up, and the garbage haul from today. Again like last spring and even despite the awful winds, the good news is we got far less trash than previous years. The bad news AGAIN is, the area was filled with lots and lots of cigarette butts which are both a huge fire hazard and unsightly, nasty trash. Yes, we found an old bottle of unopened beer and will recycle the glass!
Spring Road Clean up 2024
03.27.24
Santa Fe County Commission bans single-use plastics
By Maya Hilty mhilty@sfnewmexican.com
Say goodbye to single-use plastic bags in Santa Fe County. The County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to approve an ordinance banning restaurants and retailers from providing single-use plastic bags or polystyrene containers like Styrofoam in unincorporated areas of the county. The city of Santa Fe enacted a single-use plastic bag ban in 2015, though the city did not ban plastic foam containers.
The county ordinance carves out a handful of exceptions, such as bags used for newspaper deliveries or to package restaurant takeout with a high liquid content. Businesses have until Oct. 26 to comply with the ban.
More here:
https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/santa-fe-county-commission-bans-single-use-plastics/article_fa00c864-eb83-11ee-9abc-c771ac26d9e8.html
Santa Fe County Commission bans single-use plastics
By Maya Hilty mhilty@sfnewmexican.com
Say goodbye to single-use plastic bags in Santa Fe County. The County Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to approve an ordinance banning restaurants and retailers from providing single-use plastic bags or polystyrene containers like Styrofoam in unincorporated areas of the county. The city of Santa Fe enacted a single-use plastic bag ban in 2015, though the city did not ban plastic foam containers.
The county ordinance carves out a handful of exceptions, such as bags used for newspaper deliveries or to package restaurant takeout with a high liquid content. Businesses have until Oct. 26 to comply with the ban.
More here:
https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/santa-fe-county-commission-bans-single-use-plastics/article_fa00c864-eb83-11ee-9abc-c771ac26d9e8.html
03.21.24
With the large Terracycle box for pens and writing instruments, we've filled yet another box of plastic that will not find its way into our landfill. This time, 55 pounds. Thanks to local residents for placing these items and more in the bins up at La Tienda. Thanks to support from Jacobs (Jacobs, Inc. runs the operation at the EAWSD) who pay for the large Terracycle box for pens and writing instruments. The last shipment of pens was March (Pie Day) in 2023.
With the large Terracycle box for pens and writing instruments, we've filled yet another box of plastic that will not find its way into our landfill. This time, 55 pounds. Thanks to local residents for placing these items and more in the bins up at La Tienda. Thanks to support from Jacobs (Jacobs, Inc. runs the operation at the EAWSD) who pay for the large Terracycle box for pens and writing instruments. The last shipment of pens was March (Pie Day) in 2023.
01.27.24
We sent 7.6 pounds of razors to Terracycle. Thanks to local residents for placing these items and more in the bins up at La Tienda.
We sent 7.6 pounds of razors to Terracycle. Thanks to local residents for placing these items and more in the bins up at La Tienda.
12.12.23
Eldorado 285 Recycles Volunteer Holiday Parter with amazing food and song. Don't you want to come next year? Just be a volunteer and join the fun! Have time to volunteer? We need your help.
Eldorado 285 Recycles Volunteer Holiday Parter with amazing food and song. Don't you want to come next year? Just be a volunteer and join the fun! Have time to volunteer? We need your help.
12.21.22
Eldorado 285 Recycles featured in Stroll Eldorado. Download your copy by clicking here:
Eldorado 285 Recycles featured in Stroll Eldorado. Download your copy by clicking here:
